Adjustable density controller for a bagging machine

ABSTRACT

A density controller is provided for a bagging machine designed for filling or packing material such as silage, compost or the like into an elongate flexible bag or container. The adjustable density controller comprises a drag member or strap with a selectively adjustable length that is positioned beneath the bag being filled and the ground. The weight of the material in the bag on the flexible member resists the forward movement of the bagging machine away from the closed end of the bag. The density of the material being packed or bagged is varied by the surface area of the flexible member that is positioned beneath the bag being filled.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/417,444 filed on Apr. 16, 2003, entitled “An AdjustableDensity Control Means For A Bagging Machine.” The entire substance ofthat application is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to a density controller for a packing machineand more particularly to a density controller for a bagging machinedesigned to fill or pack material such as silage, compost, or the likeinto an elongated bag or container.

BACKGROUND

Agricultural feed bagging machines have been employed for several yearsto fill, pack, or bag silage or the like into elongated plastic bags. Inthese bagging machines, silage or the like is supplied to the forward orintake end of the bagging machine and is fed to a rotor that conveys thesilage into a tunnel on which the bag is positioned so that the bag isfilled. As silage is loaded into the bag, the bagging machine moves awayfrom the filled end of the bag in a controlled fashion so as to achieveuniform compaction of the silage material within the bag. In earlybagging machines, a backstop structure yieldably engaged the closed endof the agricultural bag to resist the movement of the bagging machineaway from the filled end of the agricultural bag as silage is forcedinto the bag. These machines included a pair of drums rotatably mountedon the bagging machine with a brake associated therewith for braking orresisting the rotation of the drum with a selected brake force. A cableis wrapped around the drum and is connected to the backstop.

In more recent bagging machines, a density control means, which includeda plurality of cables, was positioned in the flow of the silage materialbeing bagged. In order to vary the density of the material in themachine, more or less cables would be employed based on the materialbeing packed. For example, corn silage flows easy and would require morecables while alfalfa packs hard and would use less cables. Otherarrangements are known in which the density of the material in the bagis controlled by a density control means positioned in the path of thematerial being bagged.

SUMMARY

A bagging machine is disclosed for packing or filling material such assilage, compost, or the like into a container having a closed end and anopen end. The bagging machine comprises a movable frame having arearward end and a forward end. A material-forming enclosure or tunnelhas an intake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame andconfigured to receive the material to be bagged. The material-formingenclosure also has an output end extending rearwardly away from themovable frame and configured to receive the container. Amaterial-filling or packing apparatus is coupled to the frame whichmoves the material to be bagged rearwardly into the material-formingenclosure and into the bag. At least one drag member or strap may bemounted to the packing machine to extend rearwardly with respect to theframe between the material being packed and the ground to resist forwardmovement of the bagging machine.

The drag member or strap may have a fixed member length and anadjustable extended length. The extended length being understood to bethe length of the drag member positioned between the packed material andthe ground surface. The extended length of the drag member may beadjusted in a variety of manners to be described herein.

When coupled to the machine, the drag member has an upper surface and alower surface. The upper surface may be disposed in facing relationshipwith the packed material and the lower surface may be in facingrelationship with a ground surface. The lower surface may be configuredto smooth the ground surface beneath the packed material over which thedrag member passes as the packing machine moves forward. The drag membermay also cause the bag to be stretched, increasing the bag's effectivelength and reducing wrinkles. Additionally, the top surface of the dragmember may be configured to guide the container as the packing machinemoves forward. The drag member may also be utilized to position a foldedbag onto the material-forming enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a packing machine having an adjustable densitycontroller coupled thereto.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating an adjustable density controllerbeing used.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustabledensity controller configured to be coupled to the bagging machine;

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating an adjustable density controllerbeing positioned beneath the bag being filled;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but which illustrates the adjustabledensity control means being removed from beneath the bag.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of an alternative adjustable densitycontroller having a plurality of straps.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the upper surface of a drag member of anadjustable density controller illustrating a plurality of protuberancesdisposed thereon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lower surface of a drag member of anadjustable density controller illustrating a plurality of protuberancesdisposed thereon.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lower surface of a drag member of anadjustable density controller illustrating an alternative configurationof the plurality of protuberances.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lower surface of a drag member ofan adjustable density controller illustrating an alternativeconfiguration of the plurality of protuberances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a packing or bagging machine referred to generally bythe reference numeral 10. Machine 10 includes a movable frame 12 havinga forward end 14 and a rearward end 16. Machine 10 may also includewheels and an engine 18 for driving machine 10 and the componentsthereof. The machine 10 may also be configured to be pulled by a tractorwith the power take-off thereof being utilized to power the componentsof the machine.

Machine 10 also includes an inclined feed table 22. Machine 10 furtherincludes an operator's cab 24, a hopper 26, a material-filling apparatus28, shown here in the form of a rotor, and a material-forming enclosureor tunnel 30. The filling apparatus 28 could be in the form of aplunger, screw conveyor, packing fingers, or other apparatus known inthe art. One or more horizontally spaced-apart bag retainers 44 may beprovided on the material-forming enclosure 30. The retainers 44 aredesigned to limit the bag 32 from being pulled rearwardly from theenclosure 30 during the filling of the bag.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the numeral 32 refers to a flexible bag orcontainer into which material is filled, bagged or packed. As usedherein, the terms “packing” and “bagging” are used interchangeably andshould be understood to refer to the act placing a quantity of materialinto a bag or other container. The container used in cooperation withthe adjustable density controller described herein may be a conventionalbag with an opening having a continuous circumference or it may be aflexible container formed by an elongate covering having opposing sideedges.

When a flexible, elongate covering is used to form the container, thecontainer may extend partially around or completely around the materialbeing packed to partially or completely enclose the same. The flexible,elongate covering may be formed into a cylindrical or semi-cylindricalshape by tucking the opposing side edges under the packed material. Anexample of a flexible container partially enclosing the packed materialis described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,484, filed on 30Dec. 2002 by Steven R. Cullen, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference. The flexible container may be configured such thatthe opposing side edges adjacent the material-forming enclosure aretucked between the packed material and the drag member described herein.The flexible container may also be configured such that the opposingside edges remain tucked under the packed material as the packingmachine moves away from the closed end of the flexible container. Whenone or more drag members are utilized, such as described herein, atleast a lower portion of the container may be disposed between thepacked material and the one or more drag members.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3, a density controller is referredto generally by the reference numeral 34. A drag member 36 may beconfigured to be operatively coupled to packing machine 10. When coupledto machine 10, drag member 36 may be configured to extend rearwardlywith respect to the frame, between the bag 32, or the material beingpacked, and the ground surface 42. For ease of discussion, drag member36 may be described as having a coupling end 38 operatively mounted tomachine 10 and a free end extending rearwardly with respect to frame 12.

Drag member 36 may be constructed of a heavy-duty conveyor belt materialsuch as used in conveying particulate material such as aggregate, sand,etc. Alternatively, the flexible member 36 may be constructed of rubber,plastic, woven material, non-woven material or other material suitablefor the purposes described herein. Drag member 36 may be of anythickness; however, convenience and weight considerations may favor athinner construction. Additional features of drag member 36 arediscussed below.

In some embodiments, drag member 36 may be considered to have a fixedmember length and an adjustable extended length. In these embodiments,the density controller of the present disclosure becomes an adjustabledensity controller. The extended length of drag member 36 may beunderstood to mean the length of drag member 36 disposed between thepacked material and the ground surface. The extended length may beadjusted through the use of a variety of devices and mechanisms. Forexample, drag member 36 may be configured to couple to machine 10 viachains between machine 10 and drag member 36. The extended length ofdrag member 36 may be adjusted by coupling the chains to differentlocations on drag member 36, by coupling the chains to differentlocations on machine 10, or by changing the length of the chain betweenmachine 10 and drag member 36.

One embodiment of an adjustable density controller 34 is shown in FIG. 3where drag member 36 is coupled to a rotatable winch. A rotatable membersuch as a winch shaft 46 has its ends rotatably mounted in bearings 48and 50 which are secured to support members 52 and 54. A power means 56is provided for selectively rotating the shaft 46 in either a clockwiseor counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. The power means ispreferably a hydraulic motor and a planetary gear drive mechanism 58 ofconventional design although other types of motors and gear drives couldbe utilized. A gauge 60 may be operatively connected to the hydraulicmotor 56 to provide an indication (measurement) of the hydraulicpressure within the hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic motor 56 for apurpose to be described hereinafter.

Adjustable density controller 34 may include a drag member 36operatively coupled to the movable frame 12, the material-formingenclosure 30, or any other component of the packing machine 10. Theoperative coupling of drag member 36 may be via a mechanically variableadjustment device secured to a component of the packing machine 10, viamanually variable adjustment devices, such as chains, between dragmember 36 and a component of the packing machine, or via otherconventional coupling methods. A mechanically variable adjustment devicemay include a winch and motor as shown in FIG. 3 or it may include otherdevices such as a hydraulic cylinder configured to allow more or less ofdrag member 36 to extend between the packed material and the groundsurface.

When density control 34 is configured to include a mechanically variableadjustment device, the adjustable density controller may also beutilized to assist in moving a folded bag 32 forwardly onto thematerial-forming enclosure or tunnel 30. For example, motor 56 ofdensity controller 34 may be operated to unroll drag member 36 fromshaft 46 so that the rearward end 40 thereof is positioned rearward ofthe rearward end of the material-forming enclosure 30. The upper portionof the bag 32 may then be positioned on material-forming enclosure 30with the lower portion thereof resting on drag member 36 adjacent therearward end 40. Motor 56 then may be reversed so that drag member 36 ismoved forwardly, such as by being wound upon shaft 46, which causes thelower end of folded bag 32 to be moved forwardly until such time as thebag may be lifted upwardly so that the bag retainers 44 will support thelower end of folded bag 32, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Bag retainers 44will normally replace the need for a bag pan such as found on mostconventional bagging machines.

When it is desired to fill, pack, or bag material into the bag orcontainer 32 on machine 10, the rearward end thereof is closed, such asillustrated in FIG. 1. Density controller 34 may be adjusted orconfigured so that the rearward end 40 of drag member 36 is positionedrearwardly of the rearward end of the material-forming enclosure ortunnel 30 with bag 32 resting thereupon, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

As material is forced into bag 32 by means of the material-fillingapparatus 28, machine 10 will move forwardly with respect to the closedend of the bag. The weight of bag 32 and the material therein resting ondrag member 36 will provide resistance to the forward movement ofmachine 10 away from the filled bag 32. The density of the material maybe adjustably controlled by varying the amount of drag material 36 whichis under pressure between packed material 62 and ground surface 42. Forexample, if greater density is desired, a greater amount of the flexiblemember 36 will be positioned beneath the bag. Without being bound bytheory, it is presently believed that the packing density is at leastpartially dependent of the amount of friction between drag member 36 andground surface 42. Accordingly, the packing density may be varied bychanging the extended length of drag member 36 as discussed above, bychanging the width of drag member 36, or by changing characteristics ofground surface 42 or drag member 36 to adjust the coefficient offriction therebetween.

As described earlier in connection with FIG. 3, adjustable densitycontroller 34 may be provided with a rotatable winch shaft 46, ahydraulic motor 56, and a gauge 60. The motor 56, when provided, isconfigured to unroll drag member 36 when a greater extended length isdesired and to roll up drag member 36 when a shorter extended length isdesired, but it also is configured to keep drag member 36 from unrollinginvoluntarily. A back pressure will be exerted on hydraulic motor 56 bydrag member 36 as it is being pulled under bag 32 or packed material 62during the filling process. Gauge 60, when provided, is operatively,fluidly coupled to the hydraulic motor to provide an operator with ameasurement of the amount of back pressure exerted on hydraulic motor56. This measurement can be utilized to determine the packing densityachieved for the material being packed. Similar gauges and measurementscan be implemented for different types of motors 56 and different typesof adjustment mechanisms.

FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 provide illustrations of one embodiment of anadjustable density controller 34 in different phases of operation. FIG.2 shows the packing or bagging machine 10 soon after beginningoperations. As can be seen, drag member 36 extends rearwardly frompacking machine 10 beneath the material being packed 62 and the groundsurface 42. As shown here, a lower portion of the bag or container 32 isdisposed between packed material 62 and drag member 36.

FIG. 4 shows packing machine 10 at a subsequent time during theoperation of the machine. As can be seen, movable frame 12 moves awayfrom the closed end of bag 32 pulling drag member 36 under bag 32 andpacked material 62.

FIG. 5 shows the operation of packing machine 10 when the packingoperation is concluded. When bag 32 has been completely filled or filledto the desired capacity, material-filling apparatus 28 is inactivatedand motor 56 is activated to pull drag member 36 from beneath the bag.It should be appreciated that adjustable density controller 34 may bedisengaged from bag 32 without pulling any material from within the bagsuch as may occur when density control cables, anchors, etc., areutilized within the material being bagged. Adjustable density controller34 may also pull drag member 36 from beneath the bag or packed materialprior to completing operations such as when the resistance to forwardmovement inadvertently becomes so great that packing machine 10 isunable to move forward.

With reference to FIG. 6, an alternative configuration of adjustabledensity controller 134 may comprise more than one drag member.Adjustable density controller 134 may include two drag straps 136 a, 136b as shown and may include more than two straps. The plurality of dragstraps 136 a, 136 b may be operatively coupled to the packing machine inany of the manners described above for drag member 36 or they may becoupled to rotatable shaft 146 of the winch assembly as shown in FIG. 6.Adjustable density controller 134 operates in a manner similar to theoperation of adjustable density controller 34 discussed above inrelation to FIGS. 1-5.

Additionally, adjustable density controller 134 with a plurality ofstraps 136 a, 136 b may allow for greater control over the packingdensity. As discussed above, the density to which the material is packedin the bag is related to the amount of drag member surface area disposedbetween the packed material and the ground surface. Accordingly, thedensity may be adjusted by varying the width or the length of the dragmember disposed under the packed material. Packing machine 10 may beused to pack a variety of materials and different packing densities maybe desired for different materials. Because of the different physicalproperties of the materials to be packed, the different desireddensities, and the other variables that affect material packing quality,a user may prefer to be able to control both the length and the width ofthe drag member.

The drag straps 136 a, 136 b provide a user with the ability to controlthe width of the surface area under pressure by adding or removingstraps rather than replacing the drag member 36 for a different dragmember having a different width. Additionally, the use of a plurality ofstraps may allow the user to customize the adjustable density controller34 for use with bags of different diameters without requiring anassortment of differently sized drag members. For example, the movableframe 12 may be configured to carry four separately adjustable dragstraps wherein the outermost drag straps are only extended for use withlarger diameter bags or containers.

While FIG. 6 illustrates a plurality of drag straps used in connection awinch shaft, it should be understood that each of the plurality of dragstraps may be operatively coupled to the packing machine in any of themanners discussed above. Additionally, the plurality of drag straps maybe configured to be separately adjustable. Continuing with the exampleof FIG. 6 where the drag straps are coupled to a winch shaft, each strapmay operatively coupled to a corresponding rotatable shaft that isrotatable independent of the other rotatable shafts. When otheradjustable devices are used to vary the extended length of the dragstraps, a plurality of such devices may be provided to allow separateand independent adjustment of the drag straps. It should be understoodthat the adjustable density controller may be provided with any numberof drag straps and any number of adjustment devices to control theextended length of the straps. Each winch may be configured to controlthe length of one or more straps such that at least two of the dragstraps are separately and selectively adjustable.

In operation, the separately adjustable drag straps may be used tocontrol the direction in which the bag or container is extended. In thetypical packing or bagging operation, the packing machine moves awayfrom the closed end of the bag in a substantially linear path drivenprimarily by the force of the material packing into the bag. This causesthe bag to form a substantially straight line in the direction in whichthe movable frame is headed as the bag is being filled. Such a bag canbe seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

However, many users of the packing machine 10 do not have the spaceavailable to serve as an ideal packing and storage location. The groundavailable for packing and storage may not be long enough for the longstraight bags or the ground may be uneven or have obstacles in thedesired bag path. In such circumstances, it may be desirable to have thebag turn a corner if the storage area is shorter than the desired baglength or to have the bag detour around an obstacle. For these and otherreasons it may be desirable to vary the direction in which the bag orcontainer is laid down while the bagging operation is proceeding.

An adjustable density controller having separately adjustable dragstraps may facilitate the directional control of the bag whilepreserving packing density quality. Using an embodiment with twoseparately adjustable drag straps as an example, the bag may be causedto turn to the right by increasing the extended length of the drag strapon the right hand side of the adjustable density controller 234.Increasing the extended length of the drag strap on the right hand sidewill lead to increased resistance to the packing machine's forwardprogress on the right hand side while maintaining substantially the sameresistance on the left hand side. The increased resistance on the righthand side will cause the left hand side to advance more quickly than theright hand side, which causes the movable frame and the bag to turn tothe right. The same principles allow a turn to the left by increasingthe extended length of the drag strap on the left hand side of theadjustable density controller 234.

The drag member 36 (and the flexible straps 136) has an upper surface 68(168) and a lower surface 70 (170). The upper and lower surfaces of thedrag member and the drag straps are discussed with reference to the dragmember 36 but it is to be understood that the description applies to thedrag straps as well. Upper surface 68 is disposed in facing relationshipwith the packed material. That is, the upper surface is the surface onwhich the packed material rests, either directly or with a bag orcontainer disposed between the packed material and the drag member.Lower surface 70 of the drag member is disposed in facing relationshipwith the ground surface.

Drag member 36 may be configured with a plurality of protuberances 66disposed on upper surface 68, as shown in FIG. 7. The plurality ofprotuberances on upper surface 68 may be configured to guide the bag orcontainer material as the packing machine moves forward. Whetherconfigured with or without the protuberances, drag member 36 mayincrease the usable length of the container. The weight of the packedmaterial pressing the bag or container material against the uppersurface 68 of drag member 36 may pull the bag or container material sothat it is stretched tight. Pulling the container material may reducethe wrinkles in the bag, which, if present, may reduce the effectivelength of the bag. Additionally, when upper surface 68 is configuredwith a pattern of protuberances, the protuberances 66 may be configuredto facilitate or maintain the cylindrical or semi-cylindricalconfiguration of the flexible, elongate material forming the container,which may be used as an alternative to a conventional bag. As discussedabove, a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical container may be formed bytucking opposing side edges of an elongate material under the packedmaterial. Once a portion of the elongate material is disposed betweenthe packed material and the drag member 36, protuberances 66, angledinwardly as shown in FIG. 7, may direct the opposing side edges inwardlyto retain the cylindrical or semi-cylindrical configuration of thecontainer.

The weight of the packed material on drag member 36 as the machine 10moves forward may also smooth uneven ground beneath drag member 36. Theunevenness of the ground may be caused by wheel tracks, farmingoperations, packing operations, etc. Positioning the bag on even groundresults in better bagging for a variety of reasons such as improvedcontrol over the packing density and consistency. Additionally, havingthe bag positioned on even ground facilitates the removal of the packedmaterial from the bag because wrinkles, folds, and other inconsistenciesthat conform to uneven ground will not be present in the bottom of thebag.

The lower surface 70 of drag member 36 may be configured with aplurality of protuberances, bumps, or ridges to further enhance thesmoothing effect of drag member 36 passing over the ground surface. Theplurality of protuberances disposed on lower surface 70 can be in anyconfiguration or arrangement desired. The protuberances, when present,are effective to disrupt the existing ground surface so that the weightof drag member 36 can smooth the ground.

One configuration of the plurality of protuberances 72 is shown in FIG.8. The protuberances 72 may be configured to form a series of V-shapedpatterns on the lower surface with the point of each v-shaped patternbeing position along the longitudinal centerline 74 of drag member 36and the arms of each v-shaped pattern extending rearwardly toward theopposing side edges 76 of drag member 36.

An alternative configuration of the protuberances on the lower surface70 of drag member 36 is shown in FIG. 9. In this configuration, theprotuberances are arranged to form a plurality of smaller v-shapedpatterns 78 aligned along a plurality of longitudinal lines 80. FIG. 10is distinguished from FIG. 9 in that the smaller v-shaped patterns 82are formed by a continuous ridge rather than a plurality of bumps orprotuberances as in FIG. 9.

Although the present invention has been shown and described withreference to the foregoing operational principles and preferredembodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and detail may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intendedto embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

1. A packing machine for packing material into a container, comprising:a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end; amaterial-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearwardend of the movable frame and configured to receive the material to bepacked, and an output end extending rearwardly away from the movableframe and configured to receive the container; a material-fillingapparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move thematerial to be packed rearwardly into the material-forming enclosure andinto the container; and at least one drag member mounted to the machineto extend rearwardly with respect to the frame, between the materialbeing packed and a ground surface, to resist forward movement of thepacking machine.
 2. The packing machine of claim 1, wherein at least alower portion of the container is disposed between the packed materialand the drag member.
 3. The packing machine of claim 1, wherein thecontainer is an elongate covering having opposing side edges, whereinduring operation the elongate covering is formed into a semi-cylindricalshape by disposing the opposing side edges adjacent the material-formingenclosure between the packed material and the drag member, and whereinthe opposing side edges are configured to remain tucked under the packedmaterial as the packing machine moves forward.
 4. The packing machine ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one drag member has a fixed member lengthand an adjustable extended length.
 5. The packing machine of claim 4,wherein the at least one drag member is wound upon a selectivelyrotatable winch, and wherein the extended length of the drag member isadjustably controlled by selective rotation of the winch.
 6. The packingmachine of claim 1, wherein the drag member comprises two or more dragstraps each having a strap length.
 7. The packing machine of claim 6,wherein the two or more drag straps each have an adjustable extendedlength.
 8. The packing machine of claim 7, wherein the two or more dragstraps are wound upon a selectively rotatable winch, and wherein theextended lengths of the two or more drag straps are adjustablycontrolled by selective rotation of the winch.
 9. The packing machine ofclaim 6, wherein the extended lengths of at least two of the two or moredrag straps are separately and selectively adjustable.
 10. The packingmachine of claim 9, wherein at least two of the two or more flexiblestraps are wound upon corresponding, separately and selectivelyrotatable winches, and wherein the extended lengths of at least twostraps are separately and adjustably controlled by selective rotation ofthe strap's corresponding winch.
 11. The packing machine of claim 1,wherein the at least one drag member has an upper surface disposed infacing relationship with the packed material and a lower surfacedisposed in facing relationship with the ground surface, and wherein thelower surface smoothes the ground surface over which the drag memberpasses as the packing machine moves forward.
 12. The packing machine ofclaim 11, wherein a plurality of protuberances are disposed on at leastone of the lower surface of the drag member and the upper surface of thedrag member.
 13. The packing machine of claim 12, wherein the pluralityof protuberances on the lower surface are disposed to form one or morev-shaped patterns on the lower surface of the drag member.
 14. Thepacking machine of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality ofprotuberances on the lower surface are configured as v-shaped ridgeshaving a point and two, rearwardly-extending, diverging arms.
 15. Thepacking machine of claim 12, wherein the plurality of protuberances onthe upper surface are configured to guide the container as the packingmachine moves forward.
 16. The packing machine of claim 1, wherein theat least one drag member extends downwardly as well as rearwardly withrespect to the frame.
 17. A density controller for use in cooperationwith a packing machine for packing material into a container having anend, comprising: at least one drag member configured to be operativelycoupled to a packing machine and configured to extend below the packedmaterial to resist movement of the packing machine away from the end ofthe container.
 18. The density controller of claim 17, wherein at theleast one drag member is configured to extend between at least a portionof the packed container and the ground surface.
 19. The densitycontroller of claim 17, wherein the at least one drag member has a fixedmember length and an adjustable extended length.
 20. The densitycontroller of claim 19, wherein the at least one drag member is woundupon a selectively rotatable winch, and wherein the extended length ofat least one of the at least one drag member is adjustably controlled byselective rotation of the winch.
 21. The density controller of claim 17,wherein the drag member comprises two or more drag straps each having astrap length.
 22. The density controller of claim 21, wherein the two ormore drag straps each have an adjustable extended length.
 23. Thedensity controller of claim 22, wherein the two or more drag straps arewound upon a selectively rotatable winch, and wherein the extendedlengths of the two or more drag straps are adjustably controlled byselective rotation of the winch.
 24. The density controller of claim 21,wherein the extended lengths of at least two of the two or more dragstraps are separately and selectively adjustable.
 25. The densitycontroller of claim 24, wherein at least two of the two or more flexiblestraps are wound upon corresponding, separately and selectivelyrotatable winches, and wherein the extended lengths of at least twostraps are separately and adjustably controlled by selective rotation ofthe strap's corresponding winch.
 26. The density controller of claim 17,wherein the at least one drag member has an upper surface disposed infacing relationship with the packed material and a lower surfacedisposed in facing relationship with the ground surface, and wherein thelower surface smoothes the ground surface beneath the packed materialover which the drag member passes as the packing machine moves forward.27. The density controller of claim 26, wherein a plurality ofprotuberances are disposed on at least one of the lower surface of theat least one drag member and the upper surface of the at least one dragmember.
 28. The density controller of claim 26, wherein the plurality ofprotuberances on the lower surface are disposed to form one or morev-shaped patterns on the lower surface of the drag member.
 29. Thedensity controller of claim 26, wherein each of the plurality ofprotuberances on the lower surface are configured as v-shaped ridgeshaving a point and two, rearwardly-extending, diverging arms.
 30. Thedensity controller of claim 26, wherein the plurality of protuberanceson the upper surface are configured to guide the container as thepacking machine moves forward.
 31. A density controller for use incooperation with a packing machine for packing material into acontainer, comprising: a material-forming enclosure having an intake endconfigured to couple to a packing machine and configured to receivematerial to be packed, and an output end extending rearwardly away fromthe packing machine and configured to receive a container; and at leastone drag member operatively coupled to the material-forming enclosureconfigured to extend rearwardly away from the material-forming enclosurebetween a ground surface and the packed material to resist forwardmovement of the packing machine.
 32. The density controller of claim 31,wherein at the least one drag member is configured to extend between atleast a portion of the packed container and the ground surface.
 33. Thedensity controller of claim 31, wherein the at least one drag member hasa fixed member length and an adjustable extended length.
 34. The densitycontroller of claim 33, wherein the at least one drag member is woundupon a selectively rotatable winch, and wherein the extended length ofat least one of the at least one drag member is adjustably controlled byselective rotation of the winch.
 35. The density controller of claim 31,wherein the drag member comprises two or more drag straps each having astrap length.
 36. The density controller of claim 35, wherein the two ormore drag straps each have an adjustable extended length.
 37. Thedensity controller of claim 36, wherein the two or more drag straps arewound upon a selectively rotatable winch, and wherein the extendedlengths of the two or more drag straps are adjustably controlled byselective rotation of the winch.
 38. The density controller of claim 35,wherein the extended lengths of at least two of the two or more dragstraps are separately and selectively adjustable.
 39. The densitycontroller of claim 38, wherein at least two of the two or more flexiblestraps are wound upon corresponding, separately and selectivelyrotatable winches, and wherein the extended lengths of at least twostraps are separately and adjustably controlled by selective rotation ofthe strap's corresponding winch.
 40. The density controller of claim 31,wherein the at least one drag member has an upper surface disposed infacing relationship with the packed material and a lower surfacedisposed in facing relationship with the ground surface, and wherein thelower surface smoothes the ground surface beneath the packed materialover which the drag member passes as the packing machine moves forward.41. The density controller of claim 40, wherein a plurality ofprotuberances are disposed on at least one of the lower surface of theat least one drag member and the upper surface of the at least one dragmember.
 42. The density controller of claim 41, wherein the plurality ofprotuberances on the lower surface are disposed to form one or morev-shaped patterns on the lower surface of the drag member.
 43. Thedensity controller of claim 42, wherein each of the plurality ofprotuberances on the lower surface are configured as v-shaped ridgeshaving a point and two, rearwardly-extending, diverging arms.
 44. Thedensity controller of claim 41, wherein the plurality of protuberanceson the upper surface are configured to guide the container as thepacking machine moves forward.
 45. A method of packing material into acontainer, comprising the steps of: providing a packing machineincluding a movable frame having a rearward end and a forward end, amaterial-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearwardend of the movable frame which receives the material to be packed, andan output end extending rearwardly from the movable frame which receivesa container, a material-filling apparatus coupled to the movable frameand configured to move the material into and through thematerial-forming enclosure and into the container, and at least one dragmember operatively coupled to the packing machine and extendingrearwardly with respect to said frame between the packed material and aground surface to resist forward movement of the packing machine;operating said material-filling apparatus to move material through saidmaterial-forming enclosure into said container; and controlling thedensity of the material packed into said container by varying thesurface area of the at least one drag member beneath the packedmaterial.
 46. The method of claim 45, wherein at least a lower portionof the container is disposed between the packed material and the atleast one drag member.
 47. The method of claim 45, wherein the at leastone drag member comprises two or more drag straps each having a fixedstrap length and an adjustable extended length; wherein at least two ofthe drag straps are separately and selectively adjustable; and whereinthe method further comprises steering the packed container by varyingthe extended length of at least two of the drag straps beneath thepacked material.
 48. The method of claim 47, wherein at least two of thedrag straps are wound upon corresponding, separately and selectivelyrotatable winches, and wherein the extended lengths of at least two ofthe drag straps are separately and adjustably controlled by selectiverotation of the strap's corresponding winch.
 49. The method of claim 45,wherein the at least one drag member has an upper surface disposed infacing relationship with the packed material and a lower surfacedisposed in facing relationship with the ground surface, and wherein themethod further comprises smoothing the ground over which the drag memberpasses as the packing machine moves forward.
 50. A packing machine forpacking material into a container, comprising: a movable frame having arearward end and a forward end; a material-forming enclosure having anintake end coupled to the rearward end of the movable frame andconfigured to receive the material to be packed and an output endextending rearwardly away from the movable frame and configured toreceive the container; a material-filling apparatus coupled to themovable frame and configured to move the material to be packedrearwardly into the material-forming enclosure and into the container;and drag means extending rearwardly from the frame, below the materialbeing packed, for resisting forward movement of the packing machine. 51.A packing machine for packing material into a container, comprising: amovable frame having a rearward end and a forward end; amaterial-forming enclosure having an intake end coupled to the rearwardend of the movable frame and configured to receive the material to bepacked and an output end extending rearwardly away from the movableframe and configured to receive the container; a material-fillingapparatus coupled to the movable frame and configured to move thematerial to be packed rearwardly into the material-forming enclosure andinto the container; and drag means extending downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the frame, between the material being packed and a ground surface,for resisting forward movement of the packing machine.
 52. A baggingmachine for bagging material into a bag having a fixed end and an openmouth, comprising: a movable frame having rearward and forward ends; amaterial forming enclosure having an intake end which receives thematerial to be bagged and an output end which receives the open mouth ofthe bag, said material forming enclosure having an upper end and a lowerend; a material filling apparatus on said frame said material fillingapparatus moving the material to be bagged rearwardly into said materialforming enclosure and into the bag; and a flexible sheet member havingone end operatively secured to said frame and an unattached free endextending rearwardly with respect to said frame beneath the bag betweenthe filled bag and the ground to resist the movement of the baggingmachine away from the fixed end of the bag.
 53. The bagging machine ofclaim 1 wherein said sheet member has a length and a width and whereinsaid length is adjustable controlled.
 54. The bagging machine of claim 1wherein said sheet member comprises a belt material.
 55. The baggingmachine of claim 1 wherein said sheet material is wound upon aselectively rotatable member.
 56. The bagging machine of claim 4 whereinsaid selectively rotatable member controls the length of said sheetmember which is positioned beneath the filled bag.
 57. The baggingmachine of claim 1 wherein said sheet member has a width which isapproximately four to eight feet.
 58. The bagging machine of claim 1wherein said sheet member has a width at least as great as four feet.59. The bagging machine of claim 4 wherein a reversible motor isconnected to said selectively rotatable member.
 60. The bagging machineof claim 4 wherein said selectively rotatable member is selectivelyreversible.
 61. The bagging machine of claim 8 wherein said reversiblemotor comprises a hydraulic motor.
 62. The bagging machine of claim 10wherein a hydraulic pressure gauge is operatively fluidly connected tosaid hydraulic motor to provide the operator with a measurement of theamount of back pressure being exerted on said hydraulic motor by saidflexible sheet member as it is being pulled from beneath the bag duringthe filling process.
 63. A bagging machine for packing material into acontainer having a closed fixed end and an open end, comprising: amovable frame having rearward and forward ends; a material formingenclosure having an intake end which receives the material to be packedand an output end which receives the open mouth of the container; saidmaterial forming enclosure having an upper end and a lower end; amaterial packing apparatus on said frame; said material packingapparatus moving the material to be packed rearwardly into said materialforming enclosure and into the container; and a flexible member havingone end operatively secured to said frame and an unattached free endextending rearwardly with respect to said frame beneath the containerbetween the packed container and the ground to resist the movement ofthe machine away from the fixed end of the container.
 64. The machine ofclaim 12 wherein said flexible member has a length and a width andwherein said length is adjustable controlled.
 65. The machine of claim12 wherein said flexible member comprises a belt material.
 66. Themachine of claim 12 wherein said flexible material is wound upon aselectively rotatable member.
 67. The machine of claim 14 wherein saidselectively rotatable member controls the length of said flexible memberwhich is positioned beneath the packed container.
 68. The machine ofclaim 12 wherein said flexible member has a width which is approximatelyfour to eight feet.
 69. The machine of claim 12 wherein said flexiblemember has a width at least as great as four feet.
 70. The machine ofclaim 15 wherein a reversible motor is connected to said selectivelyrotatable member.
 71. The machine of claim 15 wherein said selectivelyrotatable member is selectively reversible.
 72. The machine of claim 19wherein said reversible motor comprises a hydraulic motor.
 73. Themachine of claim 21 wherein a hydraulic pressure gauge is operativelyfluidly connected to said hydraulic motor to provide the operator with ameasurement of the amount of back pressure being exerted on saidhydraulic motor by said flexible member as it is being pulled frombeneath the container during the packing process.
 74. The method ofbagging material into a bag having a closed end and an open mouth,comprising the steps of: providing a bagging machine including a movableframe having a rearward end and a forward end, a material formingenclosure having an intake end which receives the material to be baggedand an output end which receives the open mouth of the bag, a materialfilling apparatus on said frame for forcing the material into andthrough said material forming enclosure and into said bag, and aflexible sheet member having one end operatively secured to said frameand an unattached free end extending rearwardly with respect to saidframe beneath the bag between the filled bag and the ground to resistthe movement of the bagging machine away from the fixed end of the bag;operating said material filling apparatus to force material through saidmaterial forming enclosure into said bag; and controlling the density ofthe material placed into said bag by varying the distance which saidflexible sheet member extends beneath the filling bag.
 75. The method ofclaim 23 wherein said bag is stretched during the bagging operation.